Idaho takes a unique approach to nursing license renewal — rather than requiring a set number of CE hours, nurses must complete at least two approved learning activities per renewal cycle. Idaho has been a Nurse Licensure Compact member since 2001. Here's your complete guide.
Idaho RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Idaho Board of Nursing requires nurses to complete at least 2 approved learning activities within each 2-year renewal period. The most common combination is 15 contact hours of continuing education plus 100 hours of nursing practice or current specialty certification.
Idaho has been a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state since 2001, allowing nurses with a multistate license to practice across all compact states without obtaining additional licenses.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs (choose at least 2 of the following):
- 15 CE contact hours from an approved or accredited provider, relevant to your practice area
- 100 hours of nursing practice or simulation practice within the renewal period
- Current nursing specialty certification
- 1 semester credit hour of post-licensure academic education
- Board-recognized refresher course
- Workshop, seminar, or conference — participation in or presentation of
- Renewal fee: $90
For LPNs:
- Same 2-learning-activity requirement as RNs
- Renewal fee: $90
For APRNs:
- Same 2-learning-activity requirement as RNs
- Renewal fee: $90
Important Renewal Dates
Idaho has different renewal dates depending on your license type:
- RN and APRN licenses: August 31 of odd-numbered years (next deadline: August 31, 2027)
- LPN licenses: August 31 of even-numbered years (next deadline: August 31, 2026)
- Late renewal: Available with a $35 late fee; practicing on an expired license is prohibited
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Idaho Nursing License
- Log in to the Idaho DOPL online portal. Visit the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses portal to access your renewal application.
- Select your nursing license type and begin the renewal application.
- Attest to completing at least 2 approved learning activities during the renewal period (e.g., 15 CE hours and 100 practice hours).
- Answer all disclosure questions regarding professional conduct and criminal history.
- Pay the $90 renewal fee by credit or debit card.
- Maintain documentation of your learning activities for at least 5 years in case of audit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Completing only one learning activity. Idaho requires at least two — for example, 15 CE hours alone is not enough. Pair it with practice hours, certification, or academic coursework.
- Using non-approved CE providers. CE must come from an approved or accredited provider and be relevant to your practice area. Verify provider accreditation before enrolling.
- Not keeping records long enough. Idaho requires 5 years of documentation retention, which is longer than most states. Don't discard records after renewal.
- Confusing RN and LPN renewal years. RN/APRN licenses expire in odd-numbered years while LPN licenses expire in even-numbered years. Track your specific deadline.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Choose your two activities early. Decide at the start of the biennium which two learning activities you'll pursue and plan accordingly.
- Leverage your practice hours. If you're actively working as a nurse, 100 practice hours is easy to achieve. Pair it with 15 CE hours for the simplest combination.
- Use NLC benefits. Idaho has been a compact state since 2001. Your multistate license lets you practice in other NLC states without extra licenses.
- Track everything in one place. RenewRN can track your CE hours, practice hours, and send renewal reminders so you never miss a deadline.
The Two-Activity Rule — How to Combine Pathways
Per the Board, Idaho is unusual in requiring nurses to complete at least 2 approved learning activities per biennium — not just one. Most states accept a single pathway; Idaho requires at least two. The recognized activities include:
- 15 contact hours of CE from an approved or accredited provider, relevant to your practice area
- 100 hours of nursing practice or simulation practice within the renewal period
- Current nursing specialty certification
- 1 semester credit hour of post-licensure academic education
- Board-recognized refresher course
- Workshop, seminar, or conference participation or presentation
Common combinations:
- Most actively-practicing nurses: 15 CE hours + 100 practice hours (the practice hours are easy if you're working full-time)
- Nurses with national certification: certification + any other activity (CE, conference, academic)
- Nurses pursuing degrees: 1 semester credit hour + practice hours
- Nurses returning from a clinical break: refresher course + 15 CE hours
Whatever combination you pick, document both activities with clear evidence — auditors verify both, not just one.
The Two-Cycle Renewal Calendar
Per the Board, Idaho uses different renewal years for different license types:
- RN and APRN licenses: August 31 of odd-numbered years
- LPN licenses: August 31 of even-numbered years
For nurses holding both an RN and LPN credential, this means two separate renewal cycles spaced 1 year apart. Each license has its own $90 fee.
How Idaho Audits Work
Per the Board, Idaho conducts random CE audits. Maintain documentation of learning activities — the Board's notes reference 5 years of retention while the auditInfo field references at least 4 years; confirm the current retention requirement on the IBN portal.
Documentation auditors verify both activities you attested to:
- CE pathway: course certificates for all 15 hours, with provider name, course title, hours, and completion date
- Practice-hours pathway: employment records or attestation covering 100 hours of nursing practice during the renewal period
- Specialty certification pathway: certification verification letter showing current status
- Academic pathway: transcripts showing 1 semester credit hour of post-licensure academic coursework
- Refresher course pathway: completion certificate from a Board-recognized program
- Workshop/seminar pathway: attendance or presentation documentation
Failed audits can result in license discipline. Save documentation digitally with clear filenames covering the rolling retention window.
Late Renewal and Reinstatement in Idaho
Per the Board, late renewal is available with an additional late fee. The license becomes inactive if not renewed by the deadline:
- A late fee applies for late renewal (the structured field shows $25; gracePeriod text shows $35 — confirm current rate on the DOPL portal before relying on a specific number)
- $150 reinstatement fee for RN/LPN per the Board (vs. $90 standard renewal)
- You cannot work as a nurse while your license is inactive — even briefly
NLC Compact and Idaho
Per the Board, Idaho has been a Nurse Licensure Compact member state since 2001 — one of the longest-tenured compact states. If your primary state of residence is Idaho, you can apply for a multistate license through the IBN portal and practice in any of the other 41 NLC member states without separate applications.
Two practical notes:
- A multistate Idaho license still requires the 2-learning- activity requirement every renewal cycle — multistate status doesn't change CE obligations
- The August 31 deadlines apply to multistate licenses too
APRN Renewal in Idaho
Per the Board, APRNs in Idaho follow the same 2-learning- activity requirement and August 31 odd-year cycle as RNs. The $90 renewal fee is the same.
APRNs with DEA registration also need to complete the federal 8-hour MATE Act training on opioid and substance use disorder treatment — a federal requirement at DEA registration or renewal, separate from Idaho state CE.
Idaho RN Renewal FAQ
Can I count 15 CE hours alone as my two activities? No. Per the Board, you need at least 2 different learning activities. 15 CE hours is one activity — you need a second one (practice hours, certification, academic, refresher, or workshop) to satisfy the requirement.
Does specialty certification count as one activity by itself? Yes. Per the Board, current nursing specialty certification is one of the recognized learning activities. You still need to pair it with a second activity from the list.
What counts as “100 hours of nursing practice”? Per the Board, nursing practice or simulation practice within the 2-year renewal period. Hours must be verifiable through employment records.
Can I take all 15 CE hours online? Yes. Idaho doesn't require any in-person CE.
I'm a first-time renewer. Am I exempt? Per the Board, new licensees are exempt from CE for the initial renewal period.
Track Your Idaho License with RenewRN
With two learning activities to manage and 5 years of documentation to retain, Idaho's renewal process benefits from organized tracking. RenewRN sends reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires so you never lapse.